Selective aerating device



United States Patent 3,450,350 SELECTIVE AERATING DEVI-CE Gilbert V. Gullaksen, Monee, Ill., assignor to Wrightway Engineering Co., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Feb. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 617,587 Int. Cl. E03c 1/084 US. Cl. 239-4285 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to aerating devices, and more particularly to an aerating device which may be selectively rendered operable to provide either an aerated or nonaerated stream.

Aerating devices for producing a soft, bubbly, coherent stream of intimately mixed air and water are now in general use in homes, places of business and institutions. The advantages of such aerated streams are, of course, well known. However, in some instances, an aerated stream may not be desirable because of the large amount of entrained air in the stream. One example of this is in the dilution of liquid or powdered detergents with water wherein excessive amounts of foam or suds may be produced when an aerated rather than a non-aerated stream of water is employed.

To overcome this disadvantage, various types of specialized aerators have been proposed which are capable of providing either an aerated or non-aerated stream. However, such specialized aerators have not proven entirely satisfactory either because it is necessary to utilize auxiliary parts or other structures for rendering the aerator inoperative, or because of complicated manipulative steps or the higher cost of such devices.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved aerating device for selectively providing either an aerated or non-aerated stream.

Another object is to provide a novel selective aerating device of the foregoing character, which does not require auxiliary parts or structures for rendering the device operative or inoperative as an aerator.

Still another object is to provide a novel aerator of the foregoing character which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the outlet end of a faucet having an aerating device embodying the features of the present invention mounted there- FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the parts of the aerating device as they would appear when positioned to provide an aerated stream;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the parts of the device as they would appear when positioned to provide a non-aerated stream;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to FIG.

2, of another aerating device embodying the features of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a broken, longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the device shown in FIG. 5 but showing the parts as they would appear when positioned to provide a non-aerated stream.

In FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing, an aerating device 10 embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the aerating device 10 is mounted at one end of a fluid supply conduit, such as a faucet shown fragmentarily at 11. In the present instance, the end of the faucet 11 is externally threaded as at 12 to facilitate mounting the device 10 thereon, although other means could be used to effect such mounting.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the aerating device 10 comprises a tubular or cylindrical casing 13 having an internally threaded upper or inlet end .14 adapted to be threaded on to the outlet end 12 of the faucet 11. Thus, when the aerating device 10 is fully threaded onto the end 12 of the faucet 11, water, or other liquid under pressure, may flow into the casing 13 and into mixing means, indicated generally at 20, mounted therein for intimately mixing the water with air or other gas to prO- vide a soft, bubbly coherent stream from the lower or discharge end of the device 10 when the latter is functioning as an aerator.

The mixing means 20, in the present instance, comprises a disk 21 mounted on an internal shoulder 22 formed in the inner side wall, indicated at 23, of the casing 13 and having a plurality of annularly arranged holes 24 therein. The disk 21 is held on the shoulder 22 when the casing is threaded onto the faucet by an annular gasket 26 interposed between the end face of the faucet outlet 12 and the upper surface of the disk 21.

A generally oblate, spheroidal breakup or splash plug 27 depends centrally from the lower side of the disk 21 and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the ring of openings 24 such that jets of water or other liquid discharging from the openings 24 will impinge on the upper surface, indicated at 28, of the splash plug 27. Thus, the undersurface, indicated at 32, of the disk 21, the upper surface 28 of the plug 27, and the adjacent surface of the side wall 23 of the casing 13 together define a chamber or mixing zone 33 through which the jets of water from the openings 24 pass before impinging upon the upper surface 28 of the plug 27. Thus, when the high velocity jets of water from the openings 24 impinge against the upper surface 28 of the plug 27, they are broken up and become mixed with air, which has access to the chamber 33 in the manner described below, so that the flow of water is thus aerated. A turbulent mixture of commingled air and water thus flows downwardly from the chamber 33 around the plug and through an annular space 35 defined by the outer periphery of the plug 27 and the adjacent inner wall 23 of the casing 13. After passing through the annular space 35, the aerated, commingled mixture of air and water fiows into the upper end of a control member or sleeve 40 mounted in the lower end, indicated at 42, of the casing 13.

The control member or sleeve 40 preferably comprises a tubular portion 43 movably mounted in the lower or outlet end 42 of the casing 13. The tubular portion 43 of the sleeve 40 and a portion of the adjacent inner wall of the casing 13 define at least one and preferably a plurality of air passages, indicated at 45 in FIG. 4, for supplying air from the exterior of the casing 13 to the mixing chamber 33.

In order to provide the air passages 45, the outer surface of the tubular portion 43 is polygonal in form (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4), preferably hexagonal, so as to define a plurality of axially extending fiat side faces 46 having common corner edges 47. The corner edges 47 are preferably threaded as at 48 for engagement with internal threads 3 49 formed in the inner side wall 23 of the casing 13, at the lower end 42 thereof.

A screen 51 may be mounted on an internal shoulder 52 adjacent the upper end of the tubular portion 43 immediately below the plug 27 to retard the flow of aerated fliud flowing downwardly through the tubular portion 43 toward the lower or discharge end, indicated at 54, of the tubular portion. The screen 51 serves to coalesce the mixture of air and water so that a non-splashing, effluent, aerated stream is obtained from the lower end 54 of the tubular portion 43 when the device is functioning as an aerator.

As heretofore mentioned, the device 10 is capable of providing either an aerated or non-aerated fluid stream, such operation depending upon the position of the control member 40 with respect to the casing 13. Thus, assuming that it is desired to have the device 10 function as an aerator, the control member 40' is threaded out of the casing 13 so that the air passages 45 are unobstructed and permit air to flow freely therethrough from the exterior of the casing 13 to the mixing means 20. The direction of flow of air through the air passages 45 of the device 10 is indicated by arrows in FIG. 2. Consequently, when liquid under pressure, such as water from the faucet 11, is flowing through the aerating device 10, the mixing means 20 will be effective to aerate such flow so that the device will function as a conventional aerator.

However, if an aerated stream would be undesirable for one reason or another, the control member 40 may be moved to another position to render the device 10' ineffective for operation as an aerator. To this end, the control member 40 includes seal means, indicated generally at 55 (FIGS. 2 and 3), for closing the lower ends of the air passages 45. Such seal means preferably comprises a resilient O-ring 56 disposed around the tubular portion- 43 and adjacent the lower end 54 thereof. The O-ring 56 may be supported by an annular, radially outwardly extending flange 57 at the lower end 54 of the tubular portion 43. Thus, when the control member 40 is fully threaded into the casing 13, as shown in FIG. 3, the O-ring 56 seats against the remote lower end, indicated at 58, of the casing 13 and the adjacent outer surface of the tubular portion 43 of the control member 40. Thus, the lower ends of the air passages 45 leading tothe mixing chamber 33 will be closed, thereby preventing any air flow through the passages 45 to the mixing means 20. Consequently, the mixing means 20 will be rendered inoperative to aerate any liquid flowing through the device 10.

The device 10 may again be rendered operable as an aerator, merely by threading the control member 40 out of the casing 13 until the O-ring 56 no longer closes the lower ends of the air passages 45.

In FIGS. and 6, another aerating device 60 embodying features of the invention, is illustrated. Like references numerals have been used to identify parts of the device 60 identical with those of the device 10. The device 60 is generally similar to the device in that it comprises a tubular casing 63 that is adapted to be threaded onto a liquid conduit, such as the outlet end 12 of a water faucet 11, in the same manner as the device 10. The aerating device 60 also includes air and liquid mixing means 20 mounted in the interior of the casing 63 for intimately mixing air with water to provide an aerated stream when the device is functioning as an aerator, and further includes a generally tubular control member 70 mounted in the lower end, indicated at 71, of the casing for selectively rendering the device 60 operable to provide either an aerated or non-aerated stream. The control member 70 differs, however, from the control member 40 primarily in the manner in which it is mounted in the lower end 71 of the casing 63, as will be hereinafter described.

The control member 70 thus preferably comprises a tubular portion 72 having one end 73 thereof extending into the open lower end 71, of the casing 63. The outer 75 surface, indicated at 74, of the tubular portion 72 is generally cylindrical in form and has a diameter somewhat less than the inside diameter of the inner cylindrical wall, indicated at 75, of the casing 63 so as to define an annular clearance space or air passage 77 therebetween. The air passage 77 communicates at its lower end with the exterior of the casing 63 and at its upper end with a mixing .chamber 33 which serves the same purpose and functions in the same manner as the mixing chamber 33 of the device 10. A screen 82, which serves the same purpose and functions in the same manner as the screen 51 of the device 10, may be mounted on an internal shoulder 83 at the upper end of the tubular portion 72 of the control member 70'.

In order to provide the movable mounting of the control member 70 in the lower end 71 of the casing 63, at least one and preferably three radially outwardly extending, circumferentially spaced lugs 84 are provided on the upper or inner end 73 of the tubular portion 72 of the control member. The lugs 84 are disposed in an annular groove or recess 85 in the inner wall 75 of the casing 63 and in frictional engagement with an axially extending wall portion 86 defined by the recess 85. The recess 85 also defines a shoulder 87 which serves as an abutment for limiting outward movement of the control member 70 with respect to the casing 63.

As heretofore mentioned, the aerating device 60 is also capable of providing either an aerated or non-aerated fluid stream, depending upon the position of the control member 70 with respect to the casing 63. Thus, assuming that the device 60 is intended to function as an aerator, the control member 70 is shifted outwardly or downwardly with respect to the casing 63 until the lugs 84 thereof engage the shoulder 87 in the casing side wall, as shown in FIG. 5. When thus positioned, the air passage 77 is unobstructed, except for the lugs 84, so that air may flow freely therethrough from the exterior of the casing 63, between the lugs 84, to the mixing chamber 78. The direction of flow of air through the air passage 77 to the mixing chamber 33 of the device 60 is indicated by arrows in FIG. 5. The mixing means 20* of the device 60 will thus be effective to aerate liquid flowing through the device, in the manner heretofore described.

However, if an aerated stream is undesirable for any reason, the control member 70 may be moved to another position and thus render the device 60 ineffective for operation as an aerator. To this end, the control member 70 includes seal means, indicated generally at 90, for closing the lower end of the air passage 77. The seal means 90 preferably comprises a resilient O-ring 92 disposed around the tubular portion 72 adjacent the lower end, indicated at 93, of the tubular portion, and seated in a groove 94 in the upper surface of an annular, radially outwardly extending flange 95 at the lower end 93 of the tubular portion. Thus, when the control member 70 is moved upwardly or into the casing 63, the O-ring 92 seats against the remote lower end, indicated at 96, of the casing 63, thereby closing the lower end of the air passage 77. The O-ring 92 thus serves as an abutment limiting upward movement or movement of the control member 70 into the casing 63. Consequently, the mixing means 20 of the device 60 will be rendered ineffective to aerate any liquid flowing therethrough. The frictional force between the lugs 84 and the cylindrical wall portion 86 of the groove 85 is such as to prevent the control member 70 from being shifted from its non-aerating position, illustrated in FIG. 6, to its aerating position, illustrated in FIG. 5, when subjected to the full line pressure of the faucet 11.

The aerating device 60 may be again rendered operable as an aerator merely by shifting the control member 70 downwardly from the position thereof shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 5 wherein the lower end of the air passage 77 is open.

In order to assure accurate positioning of the O-ring 92 with respect to the lower end 71 of the casing 63 when the control member 70 is shifted fully into the casing 63, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer wall, indicated at 97, of the groove 94 may be inclined outwardly so as to provide a cam surface tending to cam the O-ring 92 radially inwardly toward the outer surface of the tubular portion 72 when the O-ring 92 contacts the lower end 71 of the casing 63.

While only two embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that modifications and variations thereof may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An aerating device for selectively providing either an aerated or non-aerated stream, comprising a tubular casing having a liquid inlet end adapted to be connected to a source of liquid under pressure and an outlet end, mixing means Within said casing for intimately mixing liquid from said source with air, and a control member movably mounted in the outlet end of said casing and defining therewith at least one air passage communicating at one end with the exterior of said casing and at its other end with said mixing means, said control member including a portion operable when said control member is in one position to permit air to flow freely through said air passage to said mixing means for aerating liquid flowing through said casing from said source, said portion being operable when said control member is in another position to close said air passage and prevent aeration of liquid flowing through said casing.

2. The aerating device of claim 1, further characterized in that said casing has an inner side wall, and said control member includes a tubular portion extending into the outlet end of said casing and engaging the inner side wall of said casing to permit movement of said control member between said one position and said other position.

3. The aerating device of claim 2, further characterized in that said one end of said air passage opens axially adjacent the outlet end of said casing, and said portion of said control member comprises seal means for closing said one end of said air passage when said control member is moved to said other position.

4. The aerating device of claim 3, further characterized in that said seal means comprises a resilient O-ring disposed around said control member and movable into engagement with said outlet end of said casing to close said one end of said air passage when said control member is in said other position.

5. The aerating device of claim 4, further characterized in that said tubular portion includes an annular radially outwardly extending flange for supporting said O-ring.

6. The aerating device of claim 2, further characterized in that the outer surface of said tubular portion is polygonal in form having a plurality of flat sides defining axially extending corner edges engaging the inner side wall of said casing, at least a portion of each side of said tubular portion and an adjacent portion of the inner side Wall of said casing defining an air passage therebetween communicating with said mixing means.

7. The aerating device of claim 6, further characterized in that the inner side wall of said casing and the corner edges of said tubular portion are threaded to permit said control member to be moved into and out of said casing.

8. The aerating device of claim 2, further characterized in that the inner side wall of said casing is provided with at least one recess defining an axially extending wall portion and a shoulder in said casing, and said one end of said tubular portion is provided with at least one radially outwardly extending lug frictionally engaging said axially extending wall portion of said recess, said shoulder providing an abutment limiting movement of said control member toward said one position.

9. The aerating device of claim 8, further characterized in that said recess is annular and extends around the inner periphery of said casing, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs are provided on said one end of said tubular portion and frictionally engaging said axially extending wall portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,989,249 6/1961 Richter 239428.5 X

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner. MICHAEL Y. MAR, Assistant Examiner. 

